The Latest
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Ear piercing is the next fun retail trend
Target is doing it. So are CVS and Five Below. But, can piercing draw shoppers into stores?
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Bath & Body Works outlook on profit growth turns negative as inflation wears on
The retailer expects material, transportation and wage costs, along with technology investments, to weigh on earnings.
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Mastercard to launch biometric checkout tool for retailers
The company plans to try out facial recognition and hand scanning technology in multiple countries.
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After heightened demand during the pandemic, growth at Home Depot and Lowe's begins to normalize
A cooler spring delayed sales during Q1, but Home Depot's position among professionals helped it weather challenges better than its rival.
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REI hires chief supply chain officer as it expands distribution footprint
A former TireHub executive is taking the reins as the outdoor retailer pursues further growth.
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Ulta unveils media network powered by data from 37M rewards members
The beauty brand is leaning into its scale as rivals like Sephora appear to be plotting a similar expansion into advertising.
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Target's profit 'collapsed' in Q1 as retail smashes into fuel costs
The retailer faced hundreds of millions of dollars in unexpected freight costs. But the company is being selective in when to hike prices.
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Consumers were undeterred in April, sending retail sales up over 11%
But retailers should prepare for a more difficult second half of the year, as inflation and supply issues get more serious.
Updated May 17, 2022 -
Retailers pledge to address racial profiling, unfair treatment of store customers
Several companies and brands are joining Sephora and the nonprofit Open to All in acknowledging bias and pledging concrete steps to combat it.
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David's Bridal acquires custom wedding dress startup Anomalie
However, Anomalie will no longer create custom gowns and will instead "build tools that fulfill the mission of helping brides."
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When activists come for retailers: 7 recent shareholder spats
Hedge funds have been pressing for everything from new leadership to company spinoffs at some mainstay industry players.
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Target to award $25M in paid media to diverse brands
While a typical paid media program through Target costs more than $50,000, Roundel Media Fund participants would receive the same reach for $5,000.
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Walmart's profits take a hit as fuel spikes and consumers react to inflation
As costs continue rising, the retailer is being strategic about pricing — raising and rolling back as it seeks market share and profit.
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Column
The Weekly Closeout: Eddie Bauer CEO exits and Target workers move to unionize
Damien Huang had only been CEO for about a year, while Target's Christiansburg, Virginia, employees seek higher wages.
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Century 21 to return to its iconic NYC flagship
During a time of challenges in the department store industry, the off-price luxury retailer is making a comeback after its 2020 bankruptcy.
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Instagram celebrates Shop anniversary with New York City pop-up
Instagram celebrates 1 million followers on its Shop account as the social commerce industry is expected to grow.
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Best Buy just launched a $200 home pick-up recycling program. Is it necessary?
For consumers looking to avoid e-waste, retailers are filling a gap left by manufacturers.
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Gap sets up shop in Roblox to boost teen inclusion, self-expression
Inspired by its summer ad campaign, the retailer's Club Roblox Boutique is in line with Gen Z preferences around the nascent metaverse space.
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Stepping into personal care, Blueland launches refillable body wash
The company says a reason for creating the powder-to-gel body wash is to avoid the heavy shipping weights that have larger carbon emissions.
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Amazon faces worker demands — from shareholders
The Securities and Exchange Commission's new focus on "social policy significance" means some activist proposals will get a vote at the e-commerce giant's annual meeting this month.
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Google opens second retail store
The tech company says its new Brooklyn location is the first of its "neighborhood stores," meant to be more intimate and community focused.
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Klarna debuts virtual shopping tool
The platform is adding more services as the buy now, pay later industry faces more regulatory scrutiny.
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Deep Dive
Sneaker supremacy: Nike and Adidas battle for brand love
Duking it out over six decades, the athletic wear companies influenced sports marketing and culture like few others. Who dominates in the stretch ahead may hinge on innovation and acting on pledges.
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Bark taps former Nike, Weight Watchers exec as chief marketing officer
Cindy Gustafson will be responsible for leading the online pet retailer's brand direction and driving growth.
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Warby Parker lost $15M in sales as a result of pandemic disruptions in Q1
Despite the lost sales, the eyewear brand grew revenue by 10.3% year over year and 18% from 2019. But profitability continues to weigh on the company.